After the first outbreak of Covid-19 in a mushroom unit in Ireland during August, the impact of the virus on the business has been profound. The outbreak caused the suspension of operations at the Walsh Mushrooms Golden unit in Golden, Co .Tipperary. The company has also moved to deep clean the facility.
The industry can expect that this will not be the last such outbreak in the Irish mushroom sector, nor in the worldwide mushroom sector. Even in the best managed facilities, employing all available Covid-19 protocols, the propensity for the virus to spread will be enhanced simply by the operating conditions within mushroom units, especially at chilled packhouse sites.
The company said: “As a business we have stringent measures in place to control Covid-19 since March and we have had no incidence of Covid-19 up to this point.” “We are working with the HSE and all relevant authorities assisting in contact tracing and testing of all staff. We will use the opportunity to deep clean the plant during the temporary closure. Essential maintenance will continue at the facility.”
The company added that the "safety, well-being and protection of our employees, their families and the local community" is its number one priority.
With the swift response by the company and the state health authority, testing at the site and of all 170 employees at the facility, was completed in under two days.
Hopefully the current upsurge in Covid throughout the country will soon be stopped in its tracks.
